Falcons will wait to talk to Spags

Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerHe's focused solely on the Cowboys for now.

The Falcons have requested permission to talk to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo about their open head-coaching job. According to someone who has been informed of the Giants' reply, the team said no -- for now. The person, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the coaching search, said it's just a temporary "no" until the team is eliminated from the playoffs.

Another person, who has spoken to parties involved, said the Giants' stance was they didn't want any distractions during the postseason. The person also said Spagnuolo wasn't disappointed with the Giants' refusal because he's focused on the task at hand, which is figuring out a way to shut down the Cowboys, who have scored 76 points in two games against the Giants this season.

Yet another source, who has spoken with Falcons owner Arthur Blank in the last week, said Spagnuolo and Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett are at the top of the team's wish list for a new head coach. That means at least one of those two candidates will be preparing for the NFC Championship game at this point next week. That could postpone the hiring process, which could drag up to and through the Super Bowl. Garrett and Cowboys offensive line coach Tony Sparano have already interviewed for the Falcons' job.

Atlanta will probably be content to wait for the chance to speak with Spagnuolo. Unless, of course, the Giants beat the Cowboys this week, Garrett becomes available for an immediate hire and he accepts the Falcons' job.

Another factor in the Falcons' interest in Spagnuolo is whom the team will hire as its new general manager. The Atlanta-Journal Constitiution and Newsday are reporting Giants VP of player evaluation Chris Mara interviewed today. Mara would likely make a push for Spagnuolo as would Eagles GM Tom Heckert, who watched Spagnuolo coach the Eagles' linebackers and defensive backs throughout the Andy Reid era before the Giants hired him last January.

Obviously, this is a situation that bears watching.

Oh, and for those who are unsure of the rules on interviewing assistants, here's what league spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail today:

"For clubs that have byes for wild-card weekend, interviews of its coaches must be conducted prior to the conclusion of the wild-card games." (MG SAYS: This would be Garrett, Sparano and all the other coaches on the Cowboys, Packers, Colts and Patriots.)

"For assistant coaches in a wild-card game that advance to the divisional playoffs, interviews must be conducted after the wild-card games and prior to the conclusion of the divisional playoffs." (MG SAYS: This would be Spags this week.)

"An assistant coach in the Super Bowl who has previously interviewed for another club's head coaching job may have a second interview with a club with which it has previously interviewed for an open HC position with the permission of the assistant's current club and as long as there is a two-week break between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. The interview has to take place at a time and location that is acceptable for the current employer club and it can take place no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl."

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Since Glauber was first on this Spags story, I feel compelled to give him a lookalike. And since his are usually off-the-wall (read: "extremely questionable" -- well except for his Tony Parker one), I say I go extreme on this one.

So without further ado: Spags and Animal from the Road Warriors (aka OSU LB James Laurinaitis' Pop). Well, after a little HGH and face paint, of course.